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With Ross Detwiler set to come off the disabled list Thursday and Stephen Strasburg on course to be activated Sunday, the Nationals will turn tonight to Ross Ohlendorf against the Rockies at Coors Field.
Ohlendorf, 30, is no stranger to the big leagues. He's made 108 appearances, 73 of them starts, over the last six seasons with the Yankees, Pirates and Padres. But it's been a while since he's had success at this level. An 11-game winner with a 3.92 ERA for Pittsburgh in 2009, he's gone 6-18 with a 5.80 ERA in 43 major-league games since, his career derailed by shoulder injuries.
But the Nationals gave Ohlendorf a shot this spring on a minor-league deal and he took advantage of the opportunity at Syracuse. Over his last three starts, the right-hander allowed only three runs on nine hits over 17 1/3 innings, racking up 27 strikeouts along the way.
Will that recent success against Class AAA lineups translate to the big leagues, particularly against the Rockies lineup at Coors Field? It's not a particularly encouraging matchup, considering the fact Ohlendorf in his career gives up 1.3 homers per nine innings while striking out only 6.4 batters.
The Nationals, though, merely need to get through this game to get their original rotation back intact. Win or lose, Ohlendorf is all but certain to head back to the minors after this spot start, with Detwiler returning from an oblique strain to start Thursday's series finale in Colorado.
Strasburg, meanwhile, pitched a simulated game yesterday afternoon and is scheduled to return from his lat strain to start Sunday in Cleveland, giving the Nationals all five of their Opening Day starters back on the active roster.
That also spells the end, for now, of Nate Karns' time in the big leagues. The right-hander will be optioned back to Class AA Harrisburg to make room for Ohlendorf after three up-and-down starts in which he flashed glimpses of the power arm who could succeed at this level but was done in by 17 hits (five of them homers) in only 12 innings.
Karns should get another shot with the Nationals down the road. Certainly he looks like he could use a bit more seasoning, especially against more-experienced hitters at the Class AAA level at some point, but he showed enough to suggest he can be a valuable piece to this puzzle in the long-term.
Right now, the Nationals are more concerned with the short-term. After last night's 8-3 loss, they're back under the .500 mark, still trying to engineer some sort of sustained roll. Lack of offense remains Davey Johnson's biggest problem, but he won't complain about getting his full, five-man rotation back healthy.
That day has just about come for Johnson and the Nationals. First, though, they need to find a way to get through one last fill-in start tonight.
70 comments:
NatsJack,
It's hard to be optimistic tonight but stranger things have happened.
I don't agree that Ohlendorf is certain to be sent down automatically after tonight's start. We have a bunch of spare parts in the pen that can be sent back led by Cedeno and Davis. If Ohlendorf is effective he could just slide into the Duke/Gorzo role. No?
The good news about getting through "one last fill-in start" is that you can only lose a game once. We're not gonna be ten games under .500 after Ohlendorf's start tonight.
As Mark says the offense is the problem and it will continue to be the problem until Harper returns. But for the time being I am looking forward to having confidence in the Nats' starter 80% of the time again. I took it for granted in April in May, but not any more.
Well if nothing else the conversation just got more interesting in the clubouse.
we are facing Rockies ace pitcher s well
*re-post*
I, in no way shape or form, am blaming this loss solely on Dan Haren... We have Chacin on the ropes.. The first time the line up was it, they took smart swings and had smart plate discpline. We should have had at least 5 runs on him, by himself...
However, when you see your pitcher go from good to stupid in a matter of 2.5 seconds, that has got to be a deflating experience... As soon as Haren gave up the first HR, I thought they should have pulled... I actually thought after the walk, Zook should have gone and talked to him...
Then of course guys started pressing at the plate...
The only good thing I can think is though that although they saw our BP, we also saw theirs...
We win tonight...
I have faith Ohlendorf will do well tonight... *crosses fingers, grabs the sage to burn, gets some luck clovers*
Yesterday was a total team loss and I won't blame Haren for it. Lead-off walks are the kiss of death and once again proved it last night.
That LaRoche non-play at 1st that kept the inning going was huge. The lousy at-bats with men on base were costly.
Tonight is just another must win in the last 99 games. The Nats have to get on a big winning streak and let's hope that starts tonight!
MrsB on your repost, I agree.
Last evening, I had posted that I was looking for historical examples of teams that after winning their division, missed playoffs the next season and then return to post season after that. I mentioned the 1978 WS Champs Yankees, missing in 79, returning in 1980. Doing a little more research one sees O's 1979 WS runner up then missing 4 straight seasons before winning it all in 1983.
What scares me a little is the Atlanta Braves, 1982 with Joe Torre, winning the West and 89 games..the next time the Braves made it was 10 seasons later in 1991...I hope that is not the Nats fate
I even stated one can not blame Haren...one needs a least 4 plus runs to beat Rockies in their park. I put a lot on Davey, not knowing when to pull him
Ya know - the Braves arent really a team to fear... they lost the series to the cubs and so far lost 2 to the Padres... We need to win and close the gap...
Its definitely doable....
make that 9 seasons later
MrsB loves the Nats
I know it is, but that 25% stat bothers me
So, the Nats are 3-3 since beginning the "easy" part of the schedule with a good chance of being 3-4 after tonight. And yet another "hope balloon" fizzles and pops during this dreadful season.
why not consider Haren as a long reliever? can't Davey be creative here?
mick, the holes are large and I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet but the issues are obvious and weren't properly addressed in the off-season. As I said, the only hole that was fixed was the closer role.
Remember what I said about 4.70 runs sans Colorado. If the Nats were averaging 4.70 they would be in 1st place right now at 43-20.
for all my ranting and raving, i will say this... we could be the Dodgers 8 under. 7 back of East and 5 back of wild Card with 99 to play is not really that bad
Ghost I agree with you and your stat you cite is humbling
I am not a stat guru, but it looks to me like our hits and runs per game are up. If they can get it from 3 to 4 and reign in the pitching the it might just work. Seems like we had been down around 0-1 maybe 2 and now we are inching up. Few more clutch hits with risp and tighten up the pitching on all five days. Only Jordan has been lock down, sometimes Gio. Bullpen pulled one out Sunday night. I still don't think we need to be expecting a big run just yet. The process needs some remedial work and then results will come along.
it does appear that Haren could give 1-2 solid innings in a reliever role...I'm saying, why not consider it?
I know people were harping on Stammen... But if there was an 'it was the altitude' thing... I would say it was him... His last 5/6 starts were actually pretty good... He just had an off night last night...
That guy Davis is so much like Clip its ridiculous... Man, does he have theatrics but he does what he can do and last night, he allowed no runs...
I really, really, really, really like Abad...
The thing is - last year, we averaged low runs too... Its just that our pitching was better...
Then we went to Colorado and all bats broke lose and that is when we started really doing things...
But considering the line ups that we have been trotting out there, is it really surprising we score so few runs...
I like Abad too, Davey needs to put together a bull pen now, that I think could involve Haren, Abad, Krol along with Drew, Clip and of course Soriano
And why would anyone consider this series easy? The Rockies have a better record than we do and the game is in Coors, we are missing two starters and Bryce. How is that easy?
For all the talk of Haren being a long innings reliever (since he seemingly can give you 4 solid ones) -
who comes in as the SP? I dont like Stammen in that role as I think he actually works better coming out of the BP (totally opposite of Z Duke) and C Garcia is no where near ready....
mick said...
why not consider Haren as a long reliever? can't Davey be creative here?
It may get to that but they don't have a better alternative unless Ohlendorf suddenly becomes great.
The other choice is to start pulling Haren at first sign of trouble as he has shown no ability to save himself. Problem then is you burn your long-man.
MrsB loves the Nats
Haren would enable Stammen to rest, they would compliment each other in fact, one could have each pitch 2 innings fora total of 4 and then you have the luxury of closing out with Clip, Storen or Abad and then Soriano...that would be a good line up
Ghost good point, I am going on assumption of Stras and Det back and healthy with my scenario
karlkolchak said...
"So, the Nats are 3-3 since beginning the "easy" part of the schedule with a good chance of being 3-4 after tonight. And yet another "hope balloon" fizzles and pops during this dreadful season."
It would be easier to play last year's playoff teams with Harper and Strasburg than to play the Twins and Rockies without them.
People are overthinking this. Harper and Strasburg are incredible baseball players. The guys who have replaced them have been terrible. It's not a complicated formula. If those guys return and perform up to their abilities soon, we'll be just fine. We'll probably be in the playoff race until the end. If not, we won't. It's that simple. The story of this season will be written over the next three weeks when we see when and how those two guys return.
"I know it is, but that 25% stat bothers me"
FWIW, we were at I think ~85% to start the season. If we win 10 in a row, the percent will jump, if we lose 10 in a row, it will drop. In other words, it's just a snapshot. It tries to project how the team will perform throughout the remaining games, but as we all know, that's essentially a fool's errand.
The same formulas that combine with our record to project us at 25% projected us at the beginning of the season to be in much better shape than .500 at this point.
Hopefully that all makes sense... ;). The main point is, all 25% says is what we already know: if we don't turn on the afterburners, and soon, we're not making the post season.
I wonder what is going on with T Jordan... Last time I checked his stats at Harrisburg - he was sick with it...
One has to wonder if more changes are coming once Det and SS get back...
Nationals will be lucky to win 2 games on this road trip. Time to start getting rid of the dead weight and look forward to next year. Cut Haren and Tracy, trade Lombo (like the guy, but he needs to go somewhere he can play) and Suzuki (expiring contract and he hasn't produced anywhere near his 2009-2011 numbers), try to trade Storen if anybody wants him and start looking to replace Davey before August. Karma is a bitch...should have pitched Strasburg last year when he was healthy.
mick said...
Ghost I agree with you and your stat you cite is humbling
June 12, 2013 10:37 AM
It shows how good the pitching really is. That stat also includes all those ugly unearned runs from the poor defense.
After the 2011 season I kept saying the Nats had to find that offensive balance and that 4.70 runs per game was the key.
You can have Koufax, Feller, and Gibson and it still wouldn't matter as you have to score runs for Strasburg, Gio, JZim and Detwiler and the #5.
Averages are just that. You will win some 8-6 games and lose some 3-2 games but on average this team gets it done with 4.7
Bowdenball,
I agree and disagree. Yes we are missing our best player and co best pitcher but I think the complimentary pieces aren't as good as we thought. Players we hoped would be good (Moore, Storen, Gio) have been mediocre or inconsistent. Players who we thought would be OK (Lombo, Bernie, Tracy) have been terrible and even some of the players who have done OK (Span, Zim, ALR) have been a bit worse than we had hoped.
The injuries have been devastating but it's not the entire story.
NatsJack,
Yes,
I think Ray will move up to AA sometime this year if he keeps this up. Do you think Jordan can make the leap all the way up this year? I am skeptical.
OTOH Purke and especially Schwartz were beaten up pretty badly last night giving up 2 home runs each (Schwartz lasted only 1 inning).
JD-
Yes I totally agree that it's not the whole story of the season. I was responding to the post saying the Nats haven't been able to take advantage of this softer part of the schedule so far. Of course they haven't, because the team playing those games is not the team that was projected to win 90+ games. The Cardinals are the best team in baseball right now- ask their fans what they'd expect from a "soft" part of the schedule if Wainwright and Holliday are out. They'd probably just hope to survive and not lose ground, and Nats fans should be hoping for the same. Hopefully some of those complimentary players who have been so disappointing thus far can break out and win us a few games between now and whenever the big guns are back and 100%.
JD, absolutely on the slide of some players and that happens to all teams. It's how you deal with the real bad ones (Espi) and the depth you have behind the injuries. When Bryce, Ramos, Det, Stras and Mattheus come back this will be the best team in the Majors if they score 4.70. Just hoping it isn't too late.
Gio had that great W/L last year. He looks almost as good as last year if you are scoring him runs as he is .70 off last years ERA. Not a #1 but he is pitching like a #2-3 Gio had plenty of inconsistent starts last year that looked better because he got run support.
As I discussed with Gio, he needs that extra pitch like the changeup when his curveball isn't working. I think people rated him as being better than he was last year and this year he is slightly underachieving but the season is far form over.
Eric and Ghost...EXCELLENT posts... really appreciate it
JD said...
OTOH Purke and especially Schwartz were beaten up pretty badly last night giving up 2 home runs each (Schwartz lasted only 1 inning).
How were playing conditions? Sloppy mound? Purke has to get it going. He was destined for best pitcher in College if he didn't get injured. A steal for the Nats if he can get it going.
Bowdenball,
I agree. I think not losing any ground on this road trip would be a moral victory and should give us some hope for the remainder of the season. It kind of looks like Harper is still about 2 weeks away but if the rotation is back intact we should be able to win our fair share of games
I have high hopes for Purke...
MrsB loves the Nats said...
The thing is - last year, we averaged low runs too... Its just that our pitching was better.
I don't think it's any more complicated than that.
The only weakness this team will have when they get the injured 5 back will be a true power bat off of the bench and that doesn't cost much at the trade deadline if the Nats are close in the standings.
Rizzo may also decide to keep 8 in the bullpen and go 1 short on the bench to support Haren.
If the Nats can chip away at the Braves lead to 4 games here, things could get interesting.
Braves lost again last night. Justin Upton is in a huge slump. The only one hitting is Freeman. Any pitcher that is dumb enough to throw Gattis or Uggla inner half the plate deserves their fate. That team is so predictable right now.
88 wins may win the NL East! How pathetic is that! In a short series, a healthy Nats team has the pitching and the bullpen depth!
Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...
MrsB loves the Nats said...
The thing is - last year, we averaged low runs too... Its just that our pitching was better.
I don't think it's any more complicated than that.
June 12, 2013 11:24 AM
You need a new calculator. Pitching was slightly better and runs scored is much worse by almost 1 full run per game on average.
Ghost,
They played a double header so I'm guessing the grounds were ok. I am giving Purke a pass for a month because of all the time he missed but this level (low A) is really too low for Purke. Even coming out of college the top prospects should be able to compete at AA.
Ghost,
I think that getting a good left handed power bat of the bench is harder than you think. If you are good enough to play every day then you obviously aren't in the available pool so you are looking for someone who is not quite good enough to play everyday but yet is productive enough to come through against MLB pitching.
Who do you think fits that description? it's not that easy.
JD, I don't like hearing that. Schwartz had been the talk of the Sally and Purke is just too good not to be just dominating the A- guys.
Schwartz is actually in the Carolina league (High A) and this was his 1st really bad outing. Robby Ray (power lefty) has made the biggest strides this year.
Forgotten in all of this is A.J Cole who probably has the best stuff of any of the young pitchers but has struggled at high A ball for over a year now (he is still only 21).
Ghost,
All in all we have a lot of good young arms in the minors and I bet you that we will convert some of them into position players via trades in the future because we sure as heck don't have many of these in the pipe line.
Damn... I forgot about AJ Cole...
JD, guys like Giambi are out there and will be available and cheap. In the meantime, what is taking Rizzo so long to bring up Brown. Any small upgrade is still an upgrade.
BTW, Kobernus put together a nice AB last night even though it ended in an out, but there just isn't enough on him right now to know what the Nats have.
If Tracy could at least put together a PROFESSIONAL LOOKING AT-BAT even if it ends an out I will at least think there is effort there. Are you kidding me? It isn't like they are bringing in a power lefty reliever to face him.
Purke hurt his shoulder not his elbow. Elbows are fixable with pitchers, shoulders usually aren't.
JD said...
Schwartz is actually in the Carolina league (High A) and this was his 1st really bad outing.
Like I said, HAD BEEN the talk of the Sally League. Past tense.
http://nationalsprospects.com/2013/04/blake-schwartz-promoted-to-potomac/
nats guy said...
Purke hurt his shoulder not his elbow. Elbows are fixable with pitchers, shoulders usually aren't.
Purke had no structural damage to his shoulder was my understanding. I hope that intel was correct.
"BTW, Kobernus put together a nice AB last night even though it ended in an out"
Agreed. Anyone know if his bat speed is particularly good (is that something that's measured in some objective way)? On one pitch--maybe the first--I swear he started his swing as the ball reached the plate (OK, not really, but very late) and he managed to pull it foul.
The sad part is I don't see the offense being any better next year. Any improvement from Harper, Rendon, Ramos will be balanced by further declines from Werth, Zim, and Laroche. The farm system has no impact bats left.
I really don't want to hear anyone doing any virtual screaming and yelling tonight at the pitchers. This is a bad situation happening in a bad park with a hot offense opposing us. And again I will remind you that breaking balls don't move the right way in Coors so the pitchers are going to struggle anyway. The offense is what it is. They are up from zero runs to three runs - on the weekend a few more. They are also getting runners on and missing scoring them by "this much". Second day in the mountains might be better. If not - well then, it is what it is for right now. I am just hoping beyond hope that we don't see Jayson on the bench again tonight after he went full out and apparently hurt something again.
My head says to give up on this team. My heart just won't allow it.
Friggin heart. I'll be watching and hoping tonight.
SCNF -- Every day I read someone saying they are done with this team and are giving up. The next day they are usually right back posting again. It's a disease. It's not curable. Just accept it.
Section 135 said...
The sad part is I don't see the offense being any better next year. Any improvement from Harper, Rendon, Ramos will be balanced by further declines from Werth, Zim, and Laroche. The farm system has no impact bats left.
Depending on how the season ends they may have to bite the bullet and move LaRoche to a platoon role off the bench at 1st base and play Zim there with Rendon sliding to 3rd base and look to upgrade at 2nd base.
The team probably will upgrade with a 4th outfielder and improve the bench.
That's not a lot on the laundry list for next year when you look at team control of 4 stud starters all coming back.
baseballswami said...
SCNF -- Every day I read someone saying they are done with this team and are giving up. The next day they are usually right back posting again. It's a disease. It's not curable. Just accept it.
June 12, 2013 12:08 PM
Isn't that the truth, they just change their NI Handle name ;)
I think if Espi was brought back as the 2nd base starter without re-earning a spot then I may become unglued.
To me, you just have to look at a guy like Tyler Colvin. Had a lousy Spring Training and the Rockies sent him to AAA. He had a good year last year and so what, what have you done for me lately.
Danny has never earned what he was given as it is more that the Nats had nobody better. Whose fault is that, Espi or management for not upgrading.
Earn it!
swami, that's the second time you've mentioned Werth hurting something last night. Is there a report somewhere, or are you just going on what you saw on TV? I know FP was repeating ad nauseum that it was a test of his hammie when he had to turn on the after burners to make it into second, but I wasn't under the impression their was an injury.
Swami - you are hilarious... But yeah I laugh at the folks who are dont with the team but make a concerted effort to come to a fan board to talk about...
222 - After the diving catch, cameras showed the trainers looking at the wrist..
Mrs. B, but no report of injury? Hopefully that means he's ok.
Section 135 said...
"The sad part is I don't see the offense being any better next year. Any improvement from Harper, Rendon, Ramos will be balanced by further declines from Werth, Zim, and Laroche. The farm system has no impact bats left."
Rendon has played a grand total of 5 games at 2B. Compare a full season of Rendon in the lineup to a year that has had Lombardozzi or Espinosa at 2B for 92% of the season. See any possibility for improvement now?
No 222 - at least none that I have seen... But of course, we hold our breaths when we see Werth get any attention from the medical staff....
Ohlendorf....11 game winner with a 3.92 ERA in 2009. Ha, that's called success today. Go, Ohlendorf! Come on SS and Det. get back here!!
I'm not one of those who is "done" with this team, just profoundly disappointed at their play this year and very much annoyed with team management for making some predictably bad personnel moves (Duke as the only lefty in the pen) and stubbornly refusing to change course and clear out the woefully underperforming players until the season was already in jeopardy.
My take now is that in order to make the playoffs the Nats need nearly every break to start going their way, which would be a near 180 reversal from how the season has gone so far.
"swami, that's the second time you've mentioned Werth hurting something last night."
I was wondering the same thing. After his diving catch, MASN showed footage of Kuntz massaging the wrist that Werth broke last season...
Is that what you're concerned about, swami?
The trainer Lee Kuntz was seen on camera doing some manipulation of Werth's wrist in the dugout late in the game. FP commented that it was the same wrist Werth broke last year.
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